Agents make moves, sign prospects as NFL draft approaches

JL Sports, the firm owned by veteran NFL player agent Joe Linta, has partnered with two newly certified agents while signing one of its biggest NFL draft classes ever, including LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

AMG Pro Sports has worked with JL Sports clients in the past, handling marketing deals for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco for years before Katz, 37, became certified to represent players in contract work.

SBJ Podcast:From Sochi: SBJ Olympics writer Tripp Mickle talks with Peter Carlisle, head of Octagon's Olympic division, about representing Olympic medalists and how agents make the most out of their marketing and media opportunities.

Linta, who started as an agent 22 years ago, and fellow agent Tom Kleine, are co-representing the players with Katz and Cannold.

Linta said he partnered with Katz and Cannold because of their integrity, honesty and work ethic. “Any young guy you hire, you find they are grinders,” Linta said.

Linta said the results are a strong number of invites for the NFL combine later this month. “We signed seven guys who are going to the combine, which is a record for us,” he said.

> BILBO SIGNS NFL PROSPECTS: Former NFL player and newly certified NFL agent Damarius Bilbo has opened Revolution Sports Management and has signed Notre Dame wide receiver T.J. Jones and LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry as clients. Bilbo formerly worked for NFL agent Todd France’s Five Star Athlete Management after a brief NFL playing career. He was certified to represent players by the NFLPA in 2013.

Meanwhile, free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, left Willis & Woy earlier this month. Asked for comment, Woy stated in an email, “I am proud that we helped engineer his restricted free agency deal last year that almost doubled his salary from his original tender by the Steelers. … Players change agencies for a variety of reasons, but Emmanuel told me he only has only good things to say about our agency.”

Sanders had not signed with a new agent as of press time for this column

> BEREZIN BECOMES AGENT: Former NHL player Sergei Berezin has received temporary certification to be an agent from the NHL Players’ Association and has signed Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov as a client.

The Russian-born Berezin played in the NHL from 1996 through the 2002-03 season, after which he retired. He was granted interim certification from the NHLPA for the purposes of representing one player, Markov.

Markov, who is playing for the Russian Olympic team in Sochi, left his agent, Don Meehan of Newport Sports, last fall.

Markov is in the final year of his deal with the Canadiens and has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks.